rsg_book_2013

PlantsExperimental translocation of the Peep Hill hopbushinto conservation reserves in the semi-aridMallee of South AustraliaManfred JusaitisSenior Biologist, South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, Botanic Gardens ofAdelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia; Affiliate SeniorLecturer, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide,Australia manfred.jusaitis@sa.gov.auIntroductionThe Peep Hill hop-bush (Dodonaea subglandulifera JG West) (Sapindaceae) is adioecious, erect shrub to 2 m high. It flowers from February to June, seedcapsules mature between August and December, and seeds dehisce over thewarmer months of December and January (Jusaitis & Sorensen, 1994). The plantis endemic to South Australia and restricted to several disjunct populations in thesemi-arid mallee areas of the South Australian Murray Darling Basin, with anoutlying population near Wallaroo on the upper Yorke Peninsula (Moritz &Bickerton, 2010). It is usually found on loamy soils over limestone or slate, onprivate land or roadsides. None of the known wild populations occur inconservation reserves. The main threats to the species include herbivore grazingand environmental weeds. Roadside populations are usually small and isolatedand can be subject to road maintenance and agricultural activities. Dodonaeasproduce copious amounts of small, light pollen and are typically wind pollinated(West, 1993), so adequate cross-pollination is generally assured within subpopulations.The species is listed as Endangered under the AustralianCommonwealthEnvironmental Protectionand BiodiversityConservation Act 1999(EPBC Act), and assessedas Vulnerable under IUCN(2001) criteria (VUB1&2ab(iii,v)).Goals Goal 1: Safeguard thenatural populations ofD. subglandulifera byestablishing newpopulations in twoprotected and secureconservation reserves.Dodonaea subglandulifera shoot showingleaves and fruit © B. Sorensen267